{"id":3783,"date":"2025-02-12T08:40:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T14:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/containers-clusters-wordpress\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T21:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T02:52:57","slug":"containers-clusters-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/containers-clusters-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Docker Containers With WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Running WordPress websites can involve using a wide number of configurations and software dependencies to produce high-quality products. You may have wondered if there is an easier way to develop these kinds of projects locally without running so many different software packages on your own machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, Docker<\/a> is a product that offers a solution for a quicker and smoother WordPress setup. More than just a virtual machine, Docker provides containers for developing WordPress websites in addition to other applications and software. Docker can also help you prepare applications for shipment to other platforms easily, streamlining your workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at what exactly containers are and how they affect development. Then we\u2019ll walk through how to set up a container for local WordPress development, and prepare it for production. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Docker for WordPress: A Comprehensive guide to containers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Installing WordPress is no walk in the park, and it can be overwhelming to develop a WordPress website. In terms of web development, containers are standardized units of software<\/a> that package up your code and all of its dependencies, so deploying WordPress becomes much easier. Multiple containers also make it possible to do this reliably from one environment to another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Docker is a kind of virtualization, it\u2019s different from regular Virtual Machines (VMs). Whereas VMs use up precious space, adding the host OS to the userspace for each application, containerized development shares that across all containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real beauty of Docker is that it will run the same no matter what kind of OS you\u2019re on. Additionally, you can run many Docker containers on a machine that would otherwise struggle with the same number of VMs. You also don\u2019t have to worry about any of the errors local development can sometimes bring about. This is otherwise known as the \u2018but it works on my machine\u2019 conundrum in application development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting started with Docker and WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Docker has many different products, which combine to create a powerful suite of developer tools. You can get started with the Docker Engine by downloading the Community version for free<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to create a Docker account<\/a> in order to download the engine. Then you\u2019ll want to familiarize yourself with Docker\u2019s \u2018get started<\/a>\u2019 documentation. You\u2019ll have eight different versions of Docker to choose from. For this example, we\u2019re going to download Docker Desktop for Mac<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to log in to your Docker account to download the engine. Additionally, you\u2019ll want to make sure you have a terminal application<\/a> on your computer ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a container for WordPress (with Docker)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To use Docker containers to develop a WordPress website locally, you\u2019ll also use another Docker application. We\u2019ll cover how to install Compose<\/a> in a moment, but it\u2019s important to know that this tool is used for defining and running multi-container applications in Docker. Then, you\u2019re ready to jump right in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Install compose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you launch into action with Docker, you\u2019ll want to make sure you\u2019ve installed Compose. If you\u2019re running Docker Desktop for Mac or Windows, Compose comes pre-installed:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re working on Linux, you\u2019ll need to use Terminal to execute the installation commands<\/a>. Just keep in mind that Compose is dependent on the Docker Engine. You\u2019ll need to have both installed in order to engage in any WordPress development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compose<\/a> uses a YAML Ain\u2019t Markup Language (YAML)<\/a> file to configure all of your application\u2019s services. This is a human-friendly way to present data serialization, and it works with all programming languages. In this case, the YAML file will set up the necessary database information for WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Define the project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you install Docker Engine and Compose installed, you can get started<\/a> on your first WordPress development project. You\u2019ll need to create a new, empty project directory using the \u2018make directory\u2019 command:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t
mkdir new_wordpress\/<\/code><\/pre>\n\t
\n\t\t